ROBINSON v. NEW MEXICO US UNM LA LNU LLC (2019)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT *

Ms. Deborah Sant Robinson appeals the dismissal of this case. We dismiss the appeal as frivolous.

The federal statutes governing removal allow a defendant in a state court action to remove a state court case to federal court in limited circumstances. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1441, 1446. Ms. Robinson removed five cases to federal court. As the district court correctly explained, none of the cases were removable. In two of the cases, Ms. Robinson was the plaintiff; and plaintiffs are not entitled to remove cases to federal court. See Hamilton v. Aetna Life & Cas. Co., 5 F.3d 642, 643 (2d Cir. 1993) (per curiam) (“No section [of the United States Code] provides for removal by a plaintiff.”); see also 14C Charles Alan Wright, et al., Federal Practice and Procedure § 3730 (Rev. 4th. ed. 2018) (stating that “plaintiffs cannot remove” cases to federal court). A third case was already in federal court. And the other two cases were pending in administrative bodies rather than a state court. See Or. Bureau of Labor & Indus. ex rel. Richardson v. U.S. W. Commc’ns, Inc., 288 F.3d 414, 419 (9th Cir. 2002) (“We therefore hold that 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a) does not authorize removal of proceedings from an administrative agency․”).

Despite the explanation, Ms. Robinson appealed. She disregarded the district court’s explanation and failed to provide a meaningful argument for reversal. In the absence of a meaningful argument, we dismiss the appeal as frivolous. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i); see Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325, 109 S.Ct. 1827, 104 L.Ed.2d 338 (1989) (stating the standard for legal frivolousness).

Given the absence of a nonfrivolous argument for reversal, we also deny leave to proceed in forma pauperis. See DeBardeleben v. Quinlan, 937 F.2d 502, 505 (10th Cir. 1991) (requiring inability to pay and a reasoned, nonfrivolous argument in support of the issues on appeal). We thus order Ms. Robinson to pay the filing fees of $505.00.¹

FOOTNOTES

1.   Ms. Robinson is to pay these fees to the Clerk of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.

Robert E. Bacharach, Circuit Judge